Session
Weekend Session VIII: Advanced Technologies - Research & Academia 2
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
We present novel optomechanical inertial sensing technologies of exquisite sensitivity for precision science-grade observations and engineering applications that can be used in space, air, underground, deep water, and planetary environments, as well as for inertial navigation. These technologies are based on compact low-noise optomechanical accelerometers which are comprised of monolithically fabricated mechanical resonators that incorporate compact and highly sensitive laser interferometric displacement sensors. Current laboratory prototypes have demonstrated very low mechanical losses consistent with quality factors Q of 4.77x105, and mQ-products above 1200 kg, having a fundamental mechanical resonance of 4.7 Hz. These characteristics highlight their high sensitivity in acceleration sensing with noise floor near 10-11 m s-2/√Hz. We have conducted comparison measurements with commercial systems with excellent agreement. Recent measurements on dedicated test platforms indicate that our technologies are overwhelmingly dominated by signal above 1 mHz, and exhibit noise floors in the laboratory at levels of 8 pico-g above 60 mHz. In this paper we present recent updates on our optomechanical inertial sensors, including up to date measurements of the resonator and interferometer sensitivity, as well as some of our most recently integrated prototypes.
Optomechanical Inertial Sensors
Utah State University, Logan, UT
We present novel optomechanical inertial sensing technologies of exquisite sensitivity for precision science-grade observations and engineering applications that can be used in space, air, underground, deep water, and planetary environments, as well as for inertial navigation. These technologies are based on compact low-noise optomechanical accelerometers which are comprised of monolithically fabricated mechanical resonators that incorporate compact and highly sensitive laser interferometric displacement sensors. Current laboratory prototypes have demonstrated very low mechanical losses consistent with quality factors Q of 4.77x105, and mQ-products above 1200 kg, having a fundamental mechanical resonance of 4.7 Hz. These characteristics highlight their high sensitivity in acceleration sensing with noise floor near 10-11 m s-2/√Hz. We have conducted comparison measurements with commercial systems with excellent agreement. Recent measurements on dedicated test platforms indicate that our technologies are overwhelmingly dominated by signal above 1 mHz, and exhibit noise floors in the laboratory at levels of 8 pico-g above 60 mHz. In this paper we present recent updates on our optomechanical inertial sensors, including up to date measurements of the resonator and interferometer sensitivity, as well as some of our most recently integrated prototypes.
